SPANISH FORT, Alabama - Spanish Fort coach Mark Freeman, who starts his second season as head coach on The Hill, said his team was about where he expected it to be — far ahead of where they were this time last summer.

“Honestly, I feel like we’ve made tremendous progress toward fully accessing the benefits of the system we run. But I’m not surprised. It took a while to get there. But because of the progress we made last year and this past spring, we have been able to work on some other things we really needed to work on. You know that first year of transition is always kind of tough and it really takes about two years, but this group is ahead of schedule. So, we feel very good about that.”

Freeman credits part of that progress to the 7-on-7 training and competitions that focus on the offensive versus defensive passing-game dynamic during the early to mid summer.

“That allows us to spend more time on our running game now and also how to use both more effectively together in a game. Of course, we are in the toughest 5A region (5A Region 1) in the state. So you have to be able to use both the run and the pass effectively and consistently to compete in Region 1 and beyond.”

He also said he was pleased with the attitude and effort at practice.

“I think this bunch appreciates the relationship between preparedness and results. Most of them have come up behind some pretty tough guys who worked hard and saw it pay off. Now they see it as their time and they don’t want it to slip away without giving it all they got. And that’s what happens when you establish a pattern of commitment to purpose. A sense of responsibility to keep it going and a willingness to keep working hard. But we’ll find out before the end of the month how prepared mentally and physically we are for some hard-fought battles ahead. And they are coming, one after another.”

With 12 starters returning, about six on either side of the ball with some possibly playing both ways on key downs, the Toros look ready to go. But some of the young Bulls need some more conditioning .

“First day was a really good day. Kids came out and they worked hard, they remembered what we had been talking about and working on since spring. That’s always encouraging. But the second day, I think the heat and the fatigue set in and we will address that. It’s still early, but we need to get more in shape and get ready for that week-after-week schedule with good routines of conditioning. Now the 7-on-7 guys are in shape. They had a great summer and it’s carrying over into this. I’m happy with what I’m seeing execution-wise on both sides of the ball in the throwing game. Offensively, defensively we’re looking good. It’s the little details we need to polish, pay more attention to. And that always comes easier once you’re in shape. The season will be on us before you know it, but we intend to be ready.”

The Toros open with a preseason-like jamboree against Muscle Shoals at 7 p.m. Aug. 24 in the Champions Challenge at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery.

“Muscle Shoals will give us a good idea of whether we are ready or not. That will be a good test.”

The regular-season opener, though not a playoff affecting region game, will be both historic and probably one the participants will not only tell their descendants about, but can show them if they tape the ESPN broadcast of it. The first game between the two neighboring schools is set for Labor Day, Sept 3 at 3 p.m. on The Hill at SFHS.

“We open with (6A) Daphne coming to see us,” Freeman said. “But the real season (regional games for state playoff standing) for us starts after that. So we can’t spend all our time on Daphne. Our season really starts with that next game (First Region 1 game hosting B.C. Rain (Sept. 7). We’re going to play to beat Muscle Shoals (preseason jamboree) and Daphne within the realization that our goals are 5A goals and our main goal is to make the 5A state playoffs. And (standing) in our way to doing that are some very good, and I mean very good (5A Region 1) teams like St. Paul’s, Vigor, Gulf Shores.”

Freeman also said the Toro defense would have to deliver this season to give the offense more chances to score and own the clock.

“Defense is always key,” he said. “We lost some experience on defense but we have guys that make up for it with work ethic and sheer determination. I’m seeing a lot of progress since the spring out here.”

Joel Poe returns as the starting Toro quarterback with other experienced offensive players Ed Autry, Alabama commitment Deon Johnson at wide receiver and Devonte Patrick as well as Nebraska commitment Jonathan (Johnny) Cook, senior defensive end Chris Morehouse and junior punting/kicking specialist Alexander Theodore.

“Special teams are always important,” Freeman added. “And A.T. (Theodore) has really come on strong and is really going to be a very important part of our game plans this year. He will help us be able to do things you can’t do with a weak kicker or punter. He has worked so hard, very dedicated, very intelligent and he has those nerves of steel you want in your kicker.”

The coach said the pressure to return to a title game is always a part of coaching, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It’s a high expectation school, but there’s a lot of support (at Spanish Fort) all around. We have great kids, parents and boosters and administration and great students and faculty support. We might talk about big goals with somebody casually sometimes or think about it by ourselves, but with a team sport it’s never going to happen unless everybody works together. And the harder we all work the better. And that’s still the bottom line for me. We try to teach that the harder you work, the higher you can set those expectations. And I’m very proud of this group of kids and coaches. They don’t just talk about it, they work for it.”